Ryan Bertrand

[supertom]

Him, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke are real quality players. We just need to add around them.

I'd add in Gabby and on his day Weimann to that list. The core of our team with those 7 is really excellent. Just a shame we have to play liabilities like KEA and Sylla with them.

Weimann looks a different player when he can play more centrally as his base position, and has more confidence. No problems with him. Gabby's still one of our best players too. We always look better with him in.
Our midfield is utter drek aside from Delph, so if we sort that out our ball retention, attack and defence should improve. A couple of good acquisitions will go a long way. We've got to be a bit more ambitious with our signings now though, more like Bertrand. We should conceivably be able to afford it. We've got rid of Ireland, and Hutton, Bent and Zogbia will soon follow. Albrighton and Gardner are both out of contract. They'll both be on good contracts I'd imagine, certainly Albrighton. He must be earning about 20 grand a week, around the level Fonz and Bannan were. And speaking of Fonzy, is his deal up this summer?

So we should have the budget in place to get better quality than our low budget punts.

[Olneythelonely]

Him, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke are real quality players. We just need to add around them.

I'd add in Gabby and on his day Weimann to that list. The core of our team with those 7 is really excellent. Just a shame we have to play liabilities like KEA and Sylla with them.

I was going to add Weimann, but other than tonight and last week, he's been poor. Hopefully this'll be a turnaround in fortunes for him this year. Completely forgot about Gabby, no idea why, I love him.

[Rudy65]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

Sign him up now for 4m. Sell Luna back to spain for 1m and bennett back to boro for the same. Job done

[chrisw1]

It's not that easy.  I doub't we'll get a proven premier league full back of his class and experience for 4m.  I imagine Chelsea will be starting at £10m

[Clampy]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

Sign him up now for 4m. Sell Luna back to spain for 1m and bennett back to boro for the same. Job done

And leave us with one left back? Yeah, great idea.

[*shellac*]

Doubt we will be able to afford him, he won't be cheap.

And Ashley Cole is not getting any younger and much games too, Bertrand knows he has a chance of being Chelsea's first choice left-back.ﹰ

[Marlon From Bearwood]

I think a lot could depend on whether Chelsea sign Luke Shaw. If they do then Bertrand is still likley to be 3rd choice left back, even if Cole retires/leaves, as Mourinho also seems to prefer Azpilacuetta to Bertrand. Therefore I think they'd happily let him go.

[OCD]

Just hope that Chelsea don't offer Bertrand as part of any deal for Luke Shaw.

[PaulWinch again]

It's not that easy.  I doub't we'll get a proven premier league full back of his class and experience for 4m.  I imagine Chelsea will be starting at £10m

I doubt it for a third choice left back, I'd hope we could negotiate to around £5 million which would be money very well spent.

[PGW]

Just hope that Chelsea don't offer Bertrand as part of any deal for Luke Shaw.

A very good point but one would assume that Bertrand would have some say in his own destination.....but he himself may fancy Southampton...up to us to make sure he falls in love with us whilst we have him.

[supertom]

I reckon Bertrand will cost around 5-6 million. Ashley Cole won't be there too much longer but I think the Chelski prerogative will be to spend big on a replacement for Cashley. I don't think Chelsea could rightfully try and hold out for 10 million for him. He's coming up to 25 this year and hasn't played a great deal for them. He's a good player but he's not quite Chelsea level. If he stays with them he'll be permanently a 2nd or 3rd choice.

I would hope we'll get first option to buy him and given the high paying outgoings we've had this season, and will in the summer, I think it should be do-able. We don't have a great deal of money but lets not forget we've still spent reasonable amounts on players like Vlaar, Benteke and Kozak. I don't see Bertrand as being out of reach.

The Shaw thing is a good point though, it could be a snag but honestly, in the grand scheme of things I think them being above us is a temporary anomaly. If not this season, then next, I would expect us to be above Southampton. I also think Bertrand seems to be enjoying himself here.

[Toronto Villa]

Just hope that Chelsea don't offer Bertrand as part of any deal for Luke Shaw.

If Pat Murphy is correct and there is a purchase clause then we have the right to exercise it before anyone else gets an opportunity? I imagine we are paying them a loan fee also so on top of some or all of his wages so that might come off the price of the player should we buy him outright. I would certainly hope that if nothing else he has gone a long way to prove what a solid permanent purchase he will be for the club.

[Richard E]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

On Twitter he has said that a move at the end of the season is an option, which is not quite the same thing. Did he say something more specific on the radio?   

[Toronto Villa]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

On Twitter he has said that a move at the end of the season is an option, which is not quite the same thing. Did he say something more specific on the radio?   

it's an option to buy which we would have requested as part of the loan. Usually that comes with a pre-agreed price which Chelsea would have agreed to. I would have thought that if the player proves himself we would exercise that option.

[OCD]

Just hope that Chelsea don't offer Bertrand as part of any deal for Luke Shaw.

If Pat Murphy is correct and there is a purchase clause then we have the right to exercise it before anyone else gets an opportunity? I imagine we are paying them a loan fee also so on top of some or all of his wages so that might come off the price of the player should we buy him outright. I would certainly hope that if nothing else he has gone a long way to prove what a solid permanent purchase he will be for the club.

That's a big 'if'. It might just as easily be a straight forward loan for a fee until the end of the season and then see where we are.